Still stumped?

What size rings should I use for my project?

There is no easy answer to this question, because it depends on what pattern you'd like to create. Chainmaille is such a sensitive craft that half a millimeter can be the difference between a weave working well and being impractically stiff. To decide what rings to use, we suggest you first determine what project you'd like to make (see Choosing a Chainmaille Project). Once you know that, you'll need to figure out the best ring size. This is done by understanding what aspect ratio works for the weave you want to make and then choosing a ring with that aspect ratio. More about what aspect ratio is and how chainmaillers use it in the other answers in this section.

If you're a beginner, we suggest starting off with rings that have an inner diameter of at least size H (3/16", 4.8mm). Any smaller, and you may become frustrated, unless you're used to working with tiny things! You may find the Weave Ideas category of our blog helpful to see what weaves work in some of our most popular sizes.